The walled stone bridge which traversed the ravine and led to the castle permitted only three riders at a time, so eachknight crossed with a page and squire riding at his sides. When all ten winners of the Tournament of Champions had crossed, the knights of Cornwall entered the bailey of the castle, where they handed their horses and gear to the awaiting stable hands. Servants ushered them to their quarters, informing the knights that a formal reception awaited them in the massive Great Hall.
Tristan washed up with the pitcher of water and basin in his chamber, then donned a clean tunic and breeches, after which his squire Lionel helped him with his new armor—including the surcoat bearing the Cornishchough—and his sword,Tahlfir. He joined Vaughan, Connor, and the others in the corridor, following servants to the Great Hall where an elaborate feast welcomed them.
As the new knights stood at the entrance to the Great Hall, Tristan beheld the opulence of the Castle of Camelot.
The intricate ceiling consisted of three pointed wooden arches, painted in gold and adorned with red dragons, overlooking a vast room of glittering, gilded walls. An elevated seating area, suspended high above the main floor, gave a splendid view of the sumptuous feast to a dozen of the highest-ranking nobles, the preferred guests of King Arthur Pendragon. On the main floor, long tables—perpendicular to the royal dais—were covered with white damask tablecloths where centerpieces of ornately gilded pheasant, stuffed boar’s head and aromatic arrays of spiced meat pastries beckoned the royal guests. Silver goblets of wine and ale glinted in the candlelight from the chandeliers overhead. The enticing aroma of exotic foods wafted through the air, carried upon melodic currents from harmonious harps and violins.
King Arthur was seated in a golden throne upon a dais at the royal table, where Sir Lancelot stood to his right. The First Knight of Camelot was tall and lean, with shoulder length wavy brown hair and a friendly countenance upon his handsome,youthful face. Several other nobles sat at the royal table, with a blond queen dressed in white seated beside the king.Queen Guinevere,Tristan realized.
Lords and ladies, all dressed in fine silks and brocades, were seated amongst knights in shining armor at the elegantly decorated tables throughout the vast room. Ten empty seats awaited the honored guests—the new knights representing the kingdom of Cornwall—at the table of distinction closest to the royal dais.
The herald trumpeted at the entrance to the Great Hall. Sir Lancelot of the Lake—the First Knight of Camelot—announced their arrival as he bowed and gestured to his king.
“Knights of Cornwall, Welcome! I present to you his Royal Majesty, King Arthur Pendragon, the High King of all Britain!”
The ten knights knelt before their royal sovereign, their heads bowed in fealty. They were then ushered to the table of honor, seated ceremoniously, and offered gleaming goblets of rich red wine.
King Arthur, splendidly attired in a red velvet cape and golden crown, adorned with magnificent gemstones, boomed joyously to greet them.
“Knights of Cornwall. Winners of the acclaimed Tournament of Champions. I congratulate you on your victory!”
Applause rippled through the jubilant crowd.
“My First Knight, Sir Lancelot of the Lake, will train you most vigorously for the next two years. Upon completion of your training, you will join my prestigious Knights of the Round Table. And defend all of Britain!”
Enthusiastic cheering ensued as the king raised his chalice of wine above his gilded head.
“To the winners of the Tournament of Champions. Welcome to Camelot!”
Tristan, Vaughan, Connor, and the others lifted their goblets as the joyous crowd roared. Sir Lancelot raised his silver goblet high.
“To the ten newest Knights of the Round Table. May you always prove worthy of this greatest honor!”
Beaming with pride, humbled with gratitude, Tristan and his fellow Cornish knights raised their goblets and drank.
Tristan grinned ferociously at Vaughan and Connor, his brothers in arms.
Their two-year adventure had begun.
Chapter 11
A Verdant Power
Maiwenn did indeed teach Issylte to fish. She showed her how to unearth the fat, wriggling worms that the sea trout, pike, and perch in the lake of Lough Gill loved best. The first day at the lake, the very first time she had ever fished in her entire life, Issylte caught two sea trout, giggling in delight as the fish squirmed at the end of the stick which she held tightly underneath the oak canopy at the side of the shining lake.
Maiwenn, who had caught four perch, put two of the fish in a small basket, to which she added some berries, nuts, and a few jars of her herbal tinctures. The fairy witch placed the basket under a tree at the edge of the Hazelwood Forest, explaining to Issylte, “I always leave a gift for theLittle Folk. I consider it an offering to the Goddess, since they are Her people.”
Taking her small dagger, she showed Issylte the technique of filleting the fish that they had caught. Tossing the entrails and bones of the cut fish back into the water, Maiwenn washed her knife in the lake, wrapped the fresh fillets in a clean cloth, and placed it all in a large basket.
“Come, dear, let’s return to the cottage. I’ll show you how to bake the fish with rosemary, thyme, and sage. We’ll harvest a few early carrots and turnips, and an onion. It will be a feast!”
Later that afternoon, seated at the wooden table in the cozy cottage, the old woman and the peasant princess savored the delicate flavor of the herbed trout and steaming vegetables. Once they finished their dinner, Maiwenn served a deliciousdessert, which she calledtarte aux mirabelles,a fruit pie made from the wild sweet plums that were abundant in the forest during spring and summer.
Each day, Maiwenn taught Issylte about herbs—those she cultivated in the garden, for seasoning the savory meals they prepared, but also the wild herbs which they collected in the forest, which were needed for the tinctures, potions, ointments, and salves that they bartered in the village. Issylte learned which herbs would soothe the cramps she suffered each month when her courses came; she learned which would help promote fertility or prevent a babe from being conceived. Maiwenn taught her how to harvest fresh flowers and prepare essential oils, to which they would add herbs for healing wounds, or to soothe aching joints and muscles.
One day, Maiwenn led Issylte along the stream to a sheltered grove where an abundance of beautiful purple and white wildflowers grew amidst ivy-entwined evergreen shrubs and yew trees. The fairy witch motioned for Issylte to kneel at her side among the flowers. Her luminous brown eyes twinkled in the filtered sunlight.
“Every tree, plant, flower and herb has an essence. A spirit. A life force.” She gestured to the verdant forest all around.
